Method and system for an emergency location information service (e-lis)

ABSTRACT

A method and system for determining and verifying a location of mobile and non-mobile devices in emergency situations. The method and system provide a current physical geographic location for a mobile or non-mobile device (e.g., building address, a building floor, a room on a building floor, campus, enterprise, city, state, region, country, continent, etc.) with and without translation of location coordinates, in an emergency situation such as an accident, fire, terrorist attack, military incident, kidnapping, etc.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 11/803,671, filed May 15, 2007, which is an application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent applications 60/800,774, 60/800,775, 60/800,776, and 60/800,777, all filed May 16, 2006, Ser. No. 11/803,671, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,067, on May 3, 2011, the contents of all of these cited applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This application relates to automatic processing of location information. More specifically, it relates to a method and system for an emergency location information service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many emergency situations it is of great importance to be able to quickly and accurately locate individuals within a large building. For example, in the event of a fire, public safety personnel may need to operate within an unfamiliar building on short notice, in conditions of poor visibility due to smoke or flame. Accurate location information is vital to coordinate rescue operations and ensure the safety of firefighters. Police or military personnel may be faced with similar circumstances, in which accurate and timely location information can help avoid friendly-fire incidents and coordinate action against a criminal or enemy force.

Individuals faced with an emergency involving immediate danger to life or health of themselves or a colleague need to be able to accurately provide their location to emergency/rescue personnel, preferably without human intervention to enable rescue in the case where the individual in need is incapacitated, or all attention must be devoted to his/her protection. In all these circumstances, rapid and automated acquisition of the location of an individual to within a few meters within a large building can be critical in saving lives.

Prior art methods of accomplishing such location do not simultaneously meet the requirements of rapid location determination, automation, and accuracy. Navigation employing conventional maps and visual observation or dead reckoning are not readily automated and thus require time and attention by a human observer. Manual navigation may be vitiated in the case where visibility is impacted by flame or smoke, or where personnel are under hostile fire and unable to establish their location by patient observation.

Enhanced 911, (E911) is a location technology that enables mobile, or cellular phones and other mobile device such personal digital/data assistants (PDAs) to process 911 emergency calls and enable emergency services to locate a physical geographic position of the device and thus the caller. When a person makes a 911 call using a traditional phone with wires, the call is routed to the nearest public safety answering point (PSAP) that then distributes the emergency call to the proper emergency services. The PSAP receives the caller's phone number and the exact location of the phone from which the call was made. Prior to 1996, 911 callers using a mobile phone would have to access their service providers in order to get verification of subscription service before the call was routed to a PSAP. In 1996 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that a 911 call must go directly to the PSAP without receiving verification of service from a specific cellular service provider. The call must be handled by any available service carrier even if it is not the cellular phone customer's specific carrier.

The FCC has rolled out E911 in two phases. In 1998, Phase I required that mobile phone carriers identify the originating call's phone number and the location of the signal tower, or cell, accurate to within a mile. In 2001, Phase II required that each mobile phone company doing business in the United States must offer either handset- or network-based location detection capability so that the caller's location is determined by the geographic location of the cellular phone within 100 meter accuracy and not the location of the tower that is transmitting its signal. The FCC refers to this as Automatic Location Identification (ALI).

There are many problems associated with determining a location of device and a caller who needs to place an E911 call in an emergency. On problem is that many E911 calls a misrouted to the wrong PSAP. This can delay the dispatch of emergencies services to the caller. Another problem is that existing mobile technology makes its difficult to accurately locate mobile devices.

Another problem is that triangulation based on time of arrival at multiple mobile-communications base stations (TDOA) has inadequate coverage and is insufficiently accurate unless supplemented by signals provided by local radios placed outside the facility by public safety personnel.

Another problem is that conventional radio-frequency-based location methods do a poor job of providing topological location within a building: that is, location relative to walls, doors, partitions, stairways, and other features whose spatial extent is small but whose significance to a person's ability to move is great.

Another problem is that many mobile devices are not “location-aware.” Location-aware devices are aware of their current geographic location. Mobile telephones and Global Positioning System (“GPS”) devices may be aware of their current geographic location. GPS devices typically determine their current geographic location by communicating with satellites. However, mobile telephones may only determine their current geographic location by communicating with a particular mobile phone interface or telephony switch that provides coverage to a geographic location such as a telephony “cell” but not an exact current geographic location within the cell.

Thus, there exists a critical need for a method of locating individuals making an E911 call that is rapid, automated, accurate, simple and inexpensive to employ, and does not require manual intervention from the person to be located.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, some of the problems associated with locating E911 and other callers are overcome.

A method and system for determining and verifying a location of mobile and non-mobile devices in emergency situations is presented. The method and system provide a current physical geographic location for a mobile or non-mobile device (e.g., building address, a building floor, a room on a building floor, campus, enterprise, city, state, region, country, continent, etc.) with and without translation of location coordinates, in an emergency situation such as an accident, fire, terrorist attack, military incident, etc.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description. The detailed description proceeds with references to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary electronic information processing system;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device in an emergency; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device using existing wireless networks;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device in an emergency; and

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device in an emergency;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device using existing wireless networks;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for locating a device in an emergency;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for an emergency location information service (E-LIS);

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for an emergency location information system (E-LIS);

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for an emergency location information system (E-LIS);

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for an emergency location information system (E-LIS); and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a location of a first mobile network device determined with an emergency location information system (E-LIS).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Examplery Electronic Information Message Processing System

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary communications system 10. The exemplary communications system 10 includes, but is not limited to, one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 (only three of which are illustrated) each with one or more processors. The target network devices 12, 14, 16 include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, non-mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, portable gaming platforms (GAMEBOY and DSI by Nintendo, PSP by Sony, etc.), non-portable gaming platforms (e.g., XBOX by Microsoft, Wii by Nintendo, PLAY STATION, by Sony, etc.) non-mobile computers, wireless devices, wired devices, game devices, laptop computers, personal information devices, personal digital/data assistants (PDA), hand-held devices, network appliances, Internet appliances, cable television set-top boxes, Internet television set-top boxes, satellite television boxes, two-way pagers, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to these target electronic devices and more, fewer or others types of target electronic devices can also be used. The target network devices 12, 14, 16 function as client devices in some instances and server devices in other instances. The target network devices 12, 14, 16 may be wireless or wired as illustrated by non-mobile phone 15.

In one embodiment the target network devices 12, 14, 16 are “smart” devices. A smart device is aware of its location in (X,Y,Z) space or (X,Y,Z) geo-space. In another embodiment, the target network device 12, 14, 16 are “dumb” device. A dumb device is not aware of its location in geo-space. A dumb device is typically in contact with proxy server device that is aware of the dumb device's location in geo-space.

In one specific exemplary embodiment, the one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 also include smart phones such as the iPhone by Apple, Inc., Blackberry Storm and other Blackberry models by Research In Motion, Inc. (RIM), Droid by Motorola, Inc. HTC, Inc. other types of smart phones, other types of mobile and non-mobile phones, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to such devices, and more, fewer or other types of smart phones can be used to practice the invention.

A “smart phone” is a mobile phone that offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary basic feature phone. Smart phones and feature phones may be thought of as handheld computers integrated with a mobile telephone, but while most feature phones are able to run applications based on platforms such as Java ME, a smart phone usually allows the user to install and run more advanced applications. Smart phones and/or tablet computers run complete operating system software providing a platform for application developers assessable trough a specialized Application Programming Interface (API).

The operating systems include the iPhone OS, Android, Windows, etc. iPhone OS is a proprietary operating system for the Apple iPhone. Android is an open source operating system platform backed by Google, along with major hardware and software developers (such as Intel, HTC, ARM, Motorola and Samsung, etc.), that form the Open Handset Alliance.

The one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 also include tablet computers 16 such as the iPad, by Apple, Inc., the HP Tablet, by Hewlett Packard, Inc., the Playbook, by RIM, Inc., the Tablet, by Sony, Inc.

In one embodiment, the one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 include an internal accelerometer. An “accelerometer” is a device that measures an acceleration of the device and a change of velocity of the target network devices. Many smart phones, digital audio players and personal digital assistants contain accelerometers for user interface control; often the accelerometer is used to present landscape or portrait views of the device's screen, based on the way the device is being held. The accelerometer can be used to detect crash-strength G-forces and automatically translate and provide location 3D (X,Y,Z) geo-space into a current physical location for emergency response personal.

In one embodiment, the one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 include an internal hardware temperature sensor that indicates when the device has exceeded a certain pre-determined temperature. This internal temperature sensor is used with a corresponding to detect emergency events such as fires, weather events, etc. that include a dramatic change in temperature. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor include and Infrared temperature sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and other types of internal and external temperature sensors can also be used to practice the invention.

In another embodiment, the one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 include an external device that is plugged into a target network device 12, 14, 16 that include an integration of a variety of motion, magnetic, pressure and temperature sensors with a processing unit and dedicated smart device application software to provide location information when an emergency event is detected via the motion, magnetic, pressure and/or temperature sensors.

The network devices 12, 14, 16 include an application 26. In one embodiment, the application 26 is a software application. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and the application 26 can firmware, hardware or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the application 26 exists only on the target network devices 12, 14, 16. In another embodiment, application 26′ exists only on server network devices. In another embodiment, a portion of the application 26 exists on the target network devices 12, 14, 16 and another portion 26′ exists one or more server network devices 20, 22, 24. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and other embodiments and other combinations can also be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the application 26 is a smart application for a smart phone. A smart network device application includes interactions with an operating system on a smart phone. In another embodiment, the application 26 is a smart application for the tablet computer. The interactions for the application 26 are typically completed through an Application Programming Interface (API).

The mobile network devices 12, 14, 16 are in communications with a communications network 18. The communications network 18 includes, but is not limited to, the Internet, an intranet, a wired Local Area Network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WiLAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), mesh networks and other types of wired and wireless communications networks 18 providing voice, video and data communications with wired or wireless communication protocols.

Plural server network devices 20, 22, 24 (only three of which are illustrated) each with one or more processors and include one or more associated databases 20′, 22′, 24′. The plural server network devices 20, 22, 24 are in communications with the one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 via the communications network 18. The plural server network devices 20, 22, 24, include, but are not limited to, wireless or wired communications servers, wireless access points, proxy servers and other types of server devices.

The communications network 18 may include one or more gateways, routers, bridges, switches. As is known in the art, a gateway connects computer networks using different network protocols and/or operating at different transmission capacities. A router receives transmitted messages and forwards them to their correct destinations over the most efficient available route. A bridge is a device that connects networks using the same communications protocols so that information can be passed from one network device to another. A switch is a device that filters and forwards packets between network segments. Switches typically operate at the data link layer and sometimes the network layer and therefore support virtually any packet protocol.

In one embodiment, the target network devices 12, 14, 16 and the server network devices 20, 22, 24 include a location application 26 with plural software modules. The multiple software modules may be implemented in firmware, hardware or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the target network devices 12, 14, 16 may include a plug-in 28 for a browser with plural software modules. In another embodiment, the plural target network devices 12, 14, 16 and plural server devices 20, 22, 24 do not include a location application or browser plug-in.

The communications network 18 may also include one or more servers or access points (AP) including wired and wireless access points (WiAP) (e.g., 20).

The communications network 18 includes data networks using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP) and other data protocols.

The communications network 18 may also include wired interfaces connecting portions of a PSTN or cable television network that connect the target network devices 12, 14, 16 via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a cable television network (CATV) including high definition television (HDTV) that connect the target network devices 12, 14, 16 via one or more twisted pairs of copper wires, digital subscriber lines (e.g. DSL, ADSL, VDSL, etc.) coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, other connection media or other connection interfaces. The PSTN is any public switched telephone network provided by AT&T, GTE, Sprint, MCI, SBC, Verizon and others.

The communications network 18 may also include digital and analog cellular services, Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS), including, mobile radio, paging and other wireless services. The communications network 18 includes a cellular telephone network, Personal Communications Services network (“PCS”), Packet Cellular Network (“PCN”), Global System for Mobile Communications, (“GSM”), Generic Packet Radio Services (“GPRS”), Cellular Digital Packet Data (“CDPD”). The communications network 18 includes a Wireless Application Protocol (“WAP”) or Digital Audio Broadcasting (“DAB”), 802.xx.xx, Global Positioning System (“GPS”) and GPS map, Digital GPS (“DGPS”) or other type of wireless network.

The wireless network includes, but is not limited to Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”), Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”), or other switched wireless technologies.

As is known in the art, PCS networks include network that cover a range of wireless, digital communications technologies and services, including cordless phones, mobile phones, voice mail, paging, faxing, mobile personal PDAs, etc. PCS devices are typically divided into narrowband and broadband categories.

Narrowband devices which operate in the 900 MHz band of frequencies, typically provide paging, data messaging, faxing, and one- and two-way electronic messaging capabilities. Broadband devices, which operate in the 1850 MHz to 1990 MHz range typically provide two-way voice, data, and video communications. Other wireless technologies such as GSM, CDMA and TDMA are typically included in the PCS category.

As is known in the art, GSM is another type of digital wireless technology widely used throughout Europe, in Australia, India, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. GSM use is growing in the U.S. GSM is a wireless platform based on TDMA to digitize data. GSM includes not only telephony and Short Message Services (“SMS”) but also voice mail, call forwarding, fax, caller ID, Internet access, and e-mail. As is known in the art, SMS is type of communications service that enables a user to allow private message communications with another user. GSM typically operates at three frequency ranges: 900 MHz (GSM 900) in Europe, Asia and most of the rest of the world; 1800 MHz (GSM 1800 or DCS 1800 or DCS) in a few European countries; and 1900 MHz (GSM 1900 also called PCS 1900 or PCS) in the United States. GSM also operates in a dual-band mode including 900/1800 Mhz and a tri-band mode include 900/1800/1900 Mhz.

As is known in the art, GPRS is a standard for wireless communications, which runs at speeds up to 150 kilo-bits-per-second (“kbit/s”). GPRS, which supports a wide range of bandwidths is an efficient use of limited bandwidth and is particularly suited for sending and receiving small bursts of data such as e-mail and Web browsing, as well as large volumes of data.

As is known in the art, CDPD is a wireless standard providing two-way, 19.2-Kbps or higher packet data transmission over existing cellular telephone channels. As is known in the art, a Packet Cellular Network (“PCN”) includes various types of packetized cellular data.

The communications network 18 may also include a “mesh network” or a “mesh sensor network.” A mesh network is a self-organizing networks built from plural nodes that may spontaneously create an impromptu network, assemble the network themselves, dynamically adapt to device failure and degradation, manage movement of nodes, and react to changes in task and network requirements. The plural nodes are reconfigurable smart sensor nodes that are self-aware, self-reconfigurable and autonomous.

A mesh network is a network that employs one of two connection arrangements, full mesh topology or partial mesh topology. In the full mesh topology, each node is connected directly to each of the others. In the partial mesh topology, nodes are connected to only some, not all, of the other nodes. A mesh network is a network where the nodes are in close proximity (e.g., about few feet to about 100 feet, or about 1 meter to about 30 meters, etc.).

Preferred embodiments of the present invention include network devices and interfaces that are compliant with all or part of standards proposed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), U.S. National Institute of Security Technology (NIST), American National Standard Institute (ANSI), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Forum, Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) Forum, Bluetooth Forum, the ADSL Forum, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and 3GPP Project 2, (3GPP2) and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). However, network devices based on other standards could also be used.

IEEE standards can be found on the World Wide Web at the Universal Resource Locator (URL) “www.ieee.org.” The ITU, (formerly known as the CCITT) standards can be found at the URL “www.itu.ch.” ETSI standards can be found at the URL “www.etsi.org.” IETF standards can be found at the URL “www.ietf.org.” The NIST standards can be found at the URL “www.nist.gov.” The ANSI standards can be found at the URL “www.ansi.org.” The DOCSIS standard can be found at the URL “www.cablemodem.com.” Bluetooth Forum documents can be found at the URL “www.bluetooth.com.” WAP Forum documents can be found at the URL “www.wapforum.org.” ADSL Forum documents can be found at the URL “www.adsl.com.” FCC E911 can be found at the URL “www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced.” 3GPP and 3GPP documents can be found at the URL “www.3gpp.org.” The OMA documents can be found at the URL “www.openmobilealliance.org.”

An operating environment for network devices and interfaces of the present invention include a processing system with one or more high speed Central Processing Unit(s) (“CPU”) or other types of processors and a memory. In accordance with the practices of persons skilled in the art of computer programming, the present invention is described below with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations or instructions that are performed by the processing system, unless indicated otherwise. Such acts and operations or instructions are referred to as being “computer-executed,” “CPU executed” or “processor executed.”

It will be appreciated that acts and symbolically represented operations or instructions include the manipulation of electrical signals by the CPU. An electrical system represents data bits which cause a resulting transformation or reduction of the electrical signals, and the maintenance of data bits at memory locations in a memory system to thereby reconfigure or otherwise alter the CPU's operation, as well as other processing of signals. The memory locations where data bits are maintained are physical locations that have particular electrical, magnetic, optical, or organic properties corresponding to the data bits.

The data bits may also be maintained on a computer readable medium including magnetic disks, optical disks, organic memory, and any other volatile (e.g., Random Access Memory (“RAM”)) or non-volatile (e.g., Read-Only Memory (“ROM”)) mass storage system readable by the CPU. The computer readable medium includes cooperating or interconnected computer readable medium, which exist exclusively on the processing system or be distributed among multiple interconnected processing systems that may be local or remote to the processing system.

As is known in the art, the Open Systems Interconnection (“OSI”) reference model is a layered architecture that standardizes levels of service and types of interaction for network devices exchanging information through a communications network. The OSI reference model separates network device-to-network device communications into seven protocol layers, or levels, each building- and relying-upon the standards contained in the levels below it. The OSI reference model includes from lowest-to-highest, a physical, data-link, network, transport, session, presentation and application layer. The lowest of the seven layers deals solely with hardware links; the highest deals with software interactions at the application-program level.

As is known in the art, the Internet Protocol reference model is a layered architecture that standardizes levels of service for the Internet Protocol suite of protocols. The Internet Protocol reference model comprises in general from lowest-to-highest, a link, network, transport and application layer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wireless interfaces used for the plural target network devices 12, 14, 16 include but are not limited to, an IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, “Wireless Fidelity” (“Wi-Fi”), “Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access” (“WiMAX”), ETSI High Performance Radio Metropolitan Area Network (HIPERMAN), “RF Home” Zigbee, Bluetooth, Infrared, Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM), a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) or other long range or short range wireless interfaces may be used to practice the invention.

As is known in the art, 802.11b defines a short-range wireless network interface. The IEEE 802.11b standard defines wireless interfaces that provide up to 11 Mbps wireless data transmission to and from wireless devices over short ranges. 802.11a is an extension of the 802.11b and can deliver speeds up to 54 Mbps. 802.11g deliver speeds on par with 802.11a. However, other 802.11xx interfaces can also be used and the present invention is not limited to the 802.11 protocols defined. The IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g standards are incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, Wi-Fi is another type of 802.11xx interface, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, dual-band, etc. Wi-Fi devices include an RF interfaces such as 2.4 GHz for 802.11b or 802.11g and 5 GHz for 802.11a. More information on Wi-Fi can be found at the URL “www.weca.net.”

As is known in the art, WiMAX is an industry trade organization formed by communications component and equipment companies to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless access equipment that conforms to the IEEE 802.16xx and ETSI HIPERMAN. HIPERMAN is the European standard for MANs.

The IEEE The 802.16a, 802.16c, 802.16d 802.16e and 802.16g standards are wireless MAN technology standard that provides a wireless alternative to cable, DSL and T1/E1 for last mile broadband access. It is also used as complimentary technology to connect IEEE 802.11xx hot spots to the Internet.

The IEEE 802.16a standard for 2-11 GHz is a wireless MAN technology that provides broadband wireless connectivity to fixed, portable and nomadic devices. It provides up to 50-kilometers of service area range, allows users to get broadband connectivity without needing direct line of sight with the base station, and provides total data rates of up to 280 Mbps per base station, which is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support hundreds of businesses with T1/E1-type connectivity and thousands of homes with DSL-type connectivity with a single base station. The IEEE 802.16g provides up to 100 Mbps.

The IEEE 802.16e standard is an extension to the approved IEEE 802.16/16a/16g standard. The purpose of 802.16e is to add limited mobility to the current standard which is designed for fixed operation.

The ESTI HIPERMAN standard is an interoperable broadband fixed wireless access standard for systems operating at radio frequencies between 2 GHz and 11 GHz.

The IEEE 802.16a, 802.16d, 802.16e and 802.16g standards are incorporated herein by reference. More information on WiMAX can be found at the URL “www.wimaxforum.org.” WiMAX can be used to provide a wireless local loop (WLP).

The ETSI HIPERMAN standards TR 101 031, TR 101 475, TR 101 493-1 through TR 101 493-3, TR 101 761-1 through TR 101 761-4, TR 101 762, TR 101 763-1 through TR 101 763-3 and TR 101 957 are incorporated herein by reference. More information on ETSI standards can be found at the URL “www.etsi.org.”

As is known in the art, IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee) is low data rate network standard used for mesh network devices such as sensors, interactive toys, smart badges, remote controls, and home automation. The 802.15.4 standard provides data rates of 250 kbps, 40 kbps, and 20 kbps., two addressing modes; 16-bit short and 64-bit IEEE addressing, support for critical latency devices, such as joysticks, Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance, (CSMA-CA) channel access, automatic network establishment by a coordinator, fully handshaked protocol for transfer reliability, power management to ensure low power consumption for multi-month to multi-year battery usage and up to16 channels in the 2.4 GHz ISM band (Worldwide), 10 channels in the 915 MHz (US) and one channel in the 868 MHz band (Europe). The IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard is incorporated herein by reference. More information on 802.15.4 and ZigBee can be found at the URL “www.ieee802.org” and “www.zigbee.org” respectively.

As is known in the art, Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1 a) is a short-range radio frequency technology aimed at simplifying communications among network devices and between network devices. Bluetooth wireless technology supports both short-range point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections. The Bluetooth Specification, GL 11r02, March 2005, prepared by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and the IEEE 802.15.1 a standard are incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, Infra data association (IrDA) is a short-range radio wireless Bluetooth or wireless infrared communications. As is known in the art, Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) are short-range radio wireless communications interfaces operating at 400 MHz, 800 MHz, and 900 Mhz. ISM sensors may be used to provide wireless information to practice the invention.

As is known in the art, an RFID is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is a small object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person. RFID tags contain antennas to enable them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver. Passive tags require no internal power source, whereas active tags require a power source. RFID sensors and/or RFID tags are used to provide wireless information to practice the invention.

Passive tags are powered by received radiation from a reading device and require no internal source of power; thus, they can be manufactured at very low cost and require no ongoing maintenance as long as they are not removed or physically damaged. Passive tags can only be read by a reader device in close proximity to the tag, which is an advantage in RFID-based in-building location services.

RFID Passive tags can be manufactured in a sticker-like form factor and held in place by adhesive, providing very low installation cost; however, such an arrangement is not heat-resistant, and conventional mechanical mounting employing screws or cover plates is advisable for at least a minimal subset of all installed tags.

RFID Passive tags are typically capable of providing a 96-bit number to a tag reader: 96 bits allow 2⁹⁶=10²⁹ (100 billion billion billion) possible codes, ample to allow unique identification of every significant location within a building.

RFID Active tags may also be employed for location awareness. Active tags have longer range and can include more sophisticated functionality. In the context of this invention, active tags may be programmed to validate their location from time to time, either by reference to Global Positioning System (GPS) signals using very long integration times, or by interrogation of other RFID tags in their vicinity.

A RFID tag which finds itself in an incorrect or unverified location is programmed to turn itself off, thus avoiding spurious location data being provided to a user; responses to incorrect location may also include emitting a distress signal which can be detected by a reader during building maintenance, or contacting a central location by direct wireless communications or mesh networking employing the multiplicity of companion ID tags, in order to induce maintenance personnel to diagnose and repair the problem with the subject tag.

RFID Active tags are also deployed in a mesh network that would allow information to pass from tag to tag. This type of network would allow tag and reader information to be passed from location to location and possibly from floor to floor to move the information to a central location or to the building wall ultimately making it easier to access. Active tag networks have significant functional advantages, but are relatively expensive and maintenance-intensive compared to passive tags.

In one embodiment, the physical location information includes Global Positioning System (GPS) information, street address information, two-dimensional (2D) geo-space (e.g., X,Y) (e.g., building, floor), three-dimensional (3D) (X, Y, Z) (e.g., building, floor, floor location (e.g., room, office, desk, etc.)) or other physical location information (e.g., longitude, latitude, street address, etc.).

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that provides reliable location and time information in all weather and at all times and anywhere on or near the Earth. A GPS receiver calculates its position by precisely timing signals sent by GPS satellites. A GPS receiver uses the messages it receives to determine a transit time of each message and computes a distance to each GPS satellite 168. These distances along with the satellites' locations are used with the possible aid of triangulation, depending on which algorithm is used, to compute a current physical position of the GPS receiver. This position is then displayed, perhaps with a moving map display (e.g., at a street level, etc.) and/or latitude and longitude and/or elevation and/or speed and/or acceleration information may also be included. Many GPS units also show derived information such as travel direction and speed, calculated from position changes. The GPS coordinates include standard GPS, GPS map, Digital GPS (DGPS) and/or other types of GPS information.

The target network devices 12, 14, 16 include a protocol stack with multiple layers based on the Internet Protocol or OSI reference model. The protocol stack is used for, but not limited to, data networking. The protocol stack includes, but is not limited to, TCP, UDP, IP, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3), Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP), Voice-Over-IP (VoIP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Service Location Protocol (SLP), Session Description Protocol (SDP), Real-time Protocol (RTP), H.323, H.324, Domain Name System (DNS), Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA), instant-messaging (IM) and other protocols.

TCP provides a connection-oriented, end-to-end reliable protocol designed to fit into a layered hierarchy of protocols that support multi-network applications. For more information on TCP 58 see RFC-793, incorporated herein by reference.

UDP provides a connectionless mode of communications with datagrams in an interconnected set of networks. For more information on UDP see ITEF RFC-768, incorporated herein by reference.

IP is an addressing protocol designed to route traffic within a network or between networks. For more information on IP 54 see IETF RFC-791, incorporated herein by reference. An IP address includes four sets of numbers divided by period (e.g., x.x.x.x) in the range of zero to 255. An IP address is a unique string of numbers that identifies a device on an IP based network.

HTTP is a standard protocol for communications on the World Wide Web. For more information on HTTP, see IETF RFC-2616, incorporated herein by reference.

SMTP is a protocol for sending e-mail messages between devices including e-mail servers. For more information on SMTP, see IETF RFC-821 and RFC-2821, incorporated herein by reference.

POP3 is a protocol for a protocol used to retrieve e-mail from a mail server. For more information on POP3, see IETF RFC-1939, incorporated herein by reference.

IMAP is a protocol for retrieving e-mail messages from a server. For more information on IMAP, see IETF RFC-1730, incorporated herein by reference.

Media Access Control (MAC) is a data link layer protocol. A MAC address is a physical address of a device connected to a communications network, expressed as a 48-bit hexadecimal number. A MAC address is permanently assigned to each unit of most types of networking hardware, such as network interface cards (NICs) (e.g., Ethernet cards, etc.) by manufacturers at the factory.

VoIP is a set of facilities for managing the delivery of voice information using IP 28 packets. In general, VoIP is used to send voice information in digital form in discrete data packets (i.e., IP 28 packets) over data networks 18 rather than using traditional circuit-switched protocols used on the PSTN. VoIP is used on both wireless and wired data networks.

VoIP typically comprises several applications (e.g., SIP, SLP, SDP, H.323, H.324, DNS, AAA, etc.) that convert a voice signal into a stream of packets (e.g., IP 28 packets) on a packet network and back again. VoIP allows voice signals to travel over a stream of data packets over a communications network 18.

As is known in the art, SIP supports user mobility by proxying and re-directing requests to a mobile node's current location. Mobile nodes can register their current location. SIP is not tied to any particular conference control protocol. SIP is designed to be independent of a lower-layer transport protocol and can be extended. For more information on SIP, see IETF RFC-2543 and IETF 3261, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, SLP provides a scalable framework for the discovery and selection of network services. Using SLP, network devices using the Internet need little or no static configuration of network services for network based applications. For more information on SLP see IETF RFC-2608, incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, SDP is a protocol for describing multimedia sessions for the purposes of session announcement, session invitation, and other forms of multimedia session initiation. For more information on SDP, see IETF RFC-2327, incorporated herein by reference

As is known in the art, RTP is a protocol for end-to-end network transport functions suitable for applications transmitting real-time data, such as audio, video or simulation data, over multicast or unicast network services. For more information on RTP, see IETF RFC-1889, incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, H.323 is one of main family of video conferencing recommendations for IP networks. The ITU-T H.323 standards entitled “Packet-based multimedia communications systems” dated February 1998, September 1999, November 2000 and July 2003 are incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, H.324 is a video conferencing recommendation using Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines. The ITU-T H.324 standards entitled “Terminal for low bit-rate multimedia communication” dated February 1098 and March 2002 are incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, a Domain Name System (DNS) provides replicated distributed secure hierarchical databases that hierarchically store resource records under domain names. For more information on the DNS see IETF RFC-1034, RFC-1035, RFC-1591, RFC-2606 and RFC-2929, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) includes a classification scheme and exchange format for accounting data records (e.g., for call billing, etc.). For more information on AAA applications, see, IETF RFC-2924, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

VoIP services typically need to be able to connect to traditional circuit-switched voice networks such as those provided by the PSTN. Thus, VoIP is typically used with the H.323 protocol and other multimedia protocols. H.323 and H.324 terminals such as multimedia computers, handheld devices, PDAs or other devices such as non-mobile and mobile phones connect to existing wired and wireless communications networks 18 as well as private wired and wireless networks.

H.323 and H.324 terminals implement voice transmission functions and typically include at least one voice codec (e.g., ITU-T CODECS, G.711, G.723, G.726, G.728, G.729, GSM, etc.) that sends and receives packetized voice data and typically at least one video codec (e.g., MPEG, etc.) that sends and receives packetized video data).

An Instant Message (IM) is a “short,” real-time or near-real-time message that is sent between two or more end user devices such (computers, personal digital/data assistants (PDAs) mobile phones, etc.) running IM client applications. An IM is typically a short textual message. Examples of IM messages include America Online's Instant (AIM) messaging service, Microsoft Network (MSN) Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and Lycos ICQ Instant Messenger, IM services provided by telecom providers such as T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, and others that provide IM services via the Internet and other wired and wireless communications networks. In one embodiment of the present invention, the IM protocols used meet the requirements of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request For Comments (RFC)-2779, entitled “Instant Messaging/Presence Protocol Requirements.” However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other IM protocols not compliant with IETF RFC 2779 may also be used.

Security and Encryption

Devices and interfaces of the present invention may include security and encryption for secure communications. Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) (also called “Wired Equivalent Privacy) is a security protocol for WiLANs defined in the IEEE 802.11b standard. WEP is cryptographic privacy algorithm, based on the Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) encryption engine, used to provide confidentiality for 802.11b wireless data.

As is known in the art, RC4 is cipher designed by RSA Data Security, Inc. of Bedford, Mass., which can accept encryption keys of arbitrary length, and is essentially a pseudo random number generator with an output of the generator being XORed with a data stream to produce encrypted data.

One problem with WEP is that it is used at the two lowest layers of the OSI model, the physical layer and the data link layer, therefore, it does not offer end-to-end security. One another problem with WEP is that its encryption keys are static rather than dynamic. To update WEP encryption keys, an individual has to manually update a WEP key. WEP also typically uses 40-bit static keys for encryption and thus provides “weak encryption,” making a WEP device a target of hackers.

The IEEE 802.11 Working Group is working on a security upgrade for the 802.11 standard called “802.11i.” This supplemental draft standard is intended to improve WiLAN security. It describes the encrypted transmission of data between systems 802.11X WiLANs. It also defines new encryption key protocols including the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). The IEEE 802.11i draft standard, version 4, completed Jun. 6, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.

The 802.11i is based on 802.1x port-based authentication for user and device authentication. The 802.11i standard includes two main developments: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Robust Security Network (RSN).

WPA uses the same RC4 underlying encryption algorithm as WEP. However, WPA uses TKIP to improve security of keys used with WEP. WPA keys are derived and rotated more often than WEP keys and thus provide additional security. WPA also adds a message-integrity-check function to prevent packet forgeries.

RSN uses dynamic negotiation of authentication and selectable encryption algorithms between wireless access points and wireless devices. The authentication schemes proposed in the draft standard include Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). One proposed encryption algorithm is an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption algorithm.

Dynamic negotiation of authentication and encryption algorithms lets RSN evolve with the state of the art in security, adding algorithms to address new threats and continuing to provide the security necessary to protect information that WiLANs carry.

The NIST developed a new encryption standard, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to keep government information secure. AES is intended to be a stronger, more efficient successor to Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES). More information on NIST AES can be found at the URL www.nist.gov/aes.”

As is known in the art, DES is a popular symmetric-key encryption method developed in 1975 and standardized by ANSI in 1981 as ANSI X.3.92, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As is known in the art, 3DES is the encrypt-decrypt-encrypt (EDE) mode of the DES cipher algorithm. 3DES is defined in the ANSI standard, ANSI X9.52-1998, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. DES modes of operation are used in conjunction with the NIST Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for data encryption (FIPS 46-3, October 1999), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The NIST approved a FIPS for the AES, FIPS-197. This standard specified “Rijndael” encryption as a FIPS-approved symmetric encryption algorithm that may be used by U.S. Government organizations (and others) to protect sensitive information. The NIST FIPS-197 standard (AES FIPS PUB 197, November 2001) is incorporated herein by reference.

The NIST approved a FIPS for U.S. Federal Government requirements for information technology products for sensitive but unclassified (SBU) communications. The NIST FIPS Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules (FIPS PUB 140-2, May 2001) is incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, RSA is a public key encryption system which can be used both for encrypting messages and making digital signatures. The letters RSA stand for the names of the inventors: Rivest, Shamir and Adleman. For more information on RSA, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,829, now expired, incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, “hashing” is the transformation of a string of characters into a usually shorter fixed-length value or key that represents the original string. Hashing is used to index and retrieve items in a database because it is faster to find the item using the shorter hashed key than to find it using the original value. It is also used in many encryption algorithms.

Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA), is used for computing a secure condensed representation of a data message or a data file. When a message of any length <2⁶⁴ bits is input, the SHA-1 produces a 160-bit output called a “message digest.” The message digest can then be input to other security techniques such as encryption, a Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) and others which generates or verifies a security mechanism for the message. SHA-512 outputs a 512-bit message digest. The Secure Hash Standard, FIPS PUB 180-1, Apr. 17, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference.

Message Digest-5 (MD-5) takes as input a message of arbitrary length and produces as output a 128-bit “message digest” of the input. The MD5 algorithm is intended for digital signature applications, where a large file must be “compressed” in a secure manner before being encrypted with a private (secret) key under a public-key cryptosystem such as RSA. The IETF RFC-1321, entitled “The MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm” is incorporated here by reference.

As is known in the art, providing a way to check the integrity of information transmitted over or stored in an unreliable medium such as a wireless network is a prime necessity in the world of open computing and communications. Mechanisms that provide such integrity check based on a secret key are called “message authentication codes” (MAC). Typically, message authentication codes are used between two parties that share a secret key in order to validate information transmitted between these parties.

Keyed Hashing for Message Authentication Codes (HMAC), is a mechanism for message authentication using cryptographic hash functions. HMAC is used with any iterative cryptographic hash function, e.g., MD5, SHA-1, SHA-512, etc. in combination with a secret shared key. The cryptographic strength of HMAC depends on the properties of the underlying hash function. The IETF RFC-2101, entitled “HMAC: Keyed-Hashing for Message Authentication” is incorporated here by reference.

As is known in the art, an Electronic Code Book (ECB) is a mode of operation for a “block cipher,” with the characteristic that each possible block of plaintext has a defined corresponding cipher text value and vice versa. In other words, the same plaintext value will always result in the same cipher text value. Electronic Code Book is used when a volume of plaintext is separated into several blocks of data, each of which is then encrypted independently of other blocks. The Electronic Code Book has the ability to support a separate encryption key for each block type.

As is known in the art, Diffie and Hellman (DH) describe several different group methods for two parties to agree upon a shared secret in such a way that the secret will be unavailable to eavesdroppers. This secret is then converted into various types of cryptographic keys. A large number of the variants of the DH method exist including ANSI X9.42. The IETF RFC-2631, entitled “Diffie-Hellman Key Agreement Method” is incorporated here by reference.

However, the present invention is not limited to the security or encryption techniques described and other security or encryption techniques can also be used.

As is known in the art, the HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) Secure (HTTPs), is a standard for encrypted communications on the World Wide Web. HTTPs is actually just HTTP over a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). For more information on HTTP, see IETF RFC-2616 incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, the SSL protocol is a protocol layer which may be placed between a reliable connection-oriented network layer protocol (e.g. TCP/IP) and the application protocol layer (e.g. HTTP). SSL provides for secure communication between a source and destination by allowing mutual authentication, the use of digital signatures for integrity, and encryption for privacy.

The SSL protocol is designed to support a range of choices for specific security methods used for cryptography, message digests, and digital signatures. The security method are negotiated between the source and destination at the start of establishing a protocol session. The SSL 2.0 protocol specification, by Kipp E. B. Hickman, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference. More information on SSL is available at the URL See “netscape.com/eng/security/SSL_(—)2.html.”

As is known in the art, Transport Layer Security (TLS) provides communications privacy over the Internet. The protocol allows client/server applications to communicate over a transport layer (e.g., TCP) in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, or message forgery. For more information on TLS see IETF RFC-2246, incorporated herein by reference.

Device Based Location

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 30 for locating a device. At Step 32, plural outbound signals are sent from a first mobile network device to a plural other network devices via a communications network. At Step 34, the first mobile network device receives plural inbound wireless signals from the plural other network devices. The plural inbound wireless signals include a location for the first mobile network device in a set of pre-determined coordinates. At Step 36, the pre-determined coordinates are translated into a physical geographic location for the first mobile network device.

Method 30 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 32, plural outbound signals are sent from a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 to a plural other network devices 20, 22, 24 via a communications network 18. In one embodiment, the plural outbound signals are plural outbound wireless signals. In one embodiment the plural outbound signals include SIP messages with geo-location headers and/or message bodies which may include SDP messages.

At Step 34, the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 receives plural inbound wireless signals from the plurality of other network devices 20, 22, 24. In one embodiment the plural inbound wireless signals include SIP or SDP protocol messages with a geo-location information.

The plural inbound wireless signals include a location for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 in a set of pre-determined coordinates. In one embodiment, the set of pre-determined coordinates are (X,Y,Z) space coordinates, which are also called “geo-coordinates.”

At Step 36, the pre-determined coordinates are translated into a physical geographic location for the first mobile network device including, but not limited to, a desk and/or cubicle in a room on a building floor, a building floor in a building, a building on a street, enterprise, campus, village, town, city, state, country or continent or other global region, etc. As described herein, the physical geographic address is not a physical or data link layer address, but instead a location-based address.

In one embodiment, the location information is constantly updated in real-time (e.g., milliseconds, seconds, etc.) In another embodiment, the location information is updated in non-real-time time frames (e.g., hours, days, etc.). If the first mobile network device moves, a notification is sent to the other network devices 20, 22, 24 via the communications network.

Thus, the target device 12, 14, 16 always knows it's geo-location. If the target device 12, 14, 16 is a dumb device, a location server 20, 22, 24 acts a proxy for the dumb device and the location server, 22, 22, 24 always know the geo-location of the dumb device even though the dumb device may not know its own location.

In one embodiment, the first mobile network device 12, 14 includes application 26 as software on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device that is plugged into the device. In one embodiment, the USB device includes a wireless radio transceiver chip. In another embodiment, the first mobile network device 12, 14 may already include a wireless radio transceiver. In such an embodiment, the USB device may only include application 26.

In one embodiment, The USB port provides the power to the transceiver chip. The transceiver chip uses low power “heartbeat” communications with wireless transceivers that are strategic located throughout an enterprise, building, campus, village, town, city, state, country or continent or other global region. Software application 26 in the USB device processes the return signals from the other wireless transceivers in such way as to determine the location of the first mobile network device 12, 14 in geo-space.

Emergency Device Based Location

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 38 for locating a device in an emergency. At Step 40, a set of pre-determined coordinates received from plural other network devices are translated into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device. At Step 42, the physical geographical location is added to a message used to initiate an emergency communication. At Step 44, the emergency communication is initiated from the first mobile network device using the message including the physical geographic location of the first mobile network device.

Method 38 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 40, a set of coordinates in geo-space received from plural other network devices 20, 22, 24 are translated into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device, 12, 14 16.

In one embodiment, the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16, includes, but not limited to, a room on a building floor, a building floor in a building, a building on a street, enterprise, campus, village, town, city, state, country or continent or other global region, etc.

At Step 42, the current physical geographical location is added to a SIP geo-location header and/or message body used to initiate an E911 emergency communication.

As is known in the art, E911 stands for “Enhanced 911” which is an emergency event that provides a data event (i.e., including location information) along with the voice event (i.e., an emergency voice call).

At Step 44, the E911 emergency communication is initiated from the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 using the SIP geo-location header and/or message body including the physical geographic location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 46 for locating a device. At Step 48, a first mobile network device periodically sends a set of pre-determined coordinates received from plural other network devices to a network server via a communications network. At Step 50, the network server translates the set of pre-determined coordinates into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device. At Step 52, the network server receives an emergency message from the first mobile network device indicating an emergency has occurred. At Step 54, the network server returns the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device in a message.

Method 46 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 48, a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically sends a set of coordinates geo-space received from plural other network devices 20, 22 to a network server 24 via the communications network 18.

For example, the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically updates, either on a scheduled basis or on an event basis (e.g., physical movement of the device) its r geo-coordinates to a centralized location tracing management system 24 using HTTP, IP, cellular, RFID, 802.xx.xx, or other wireless or other data transmission protocols.

At Step 50, the network server 24 translates the set of geo-space coordinates into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

The centralized management tracing system 24 translates the geo-space coordinates into a current physical geographic location that can be responded to by emergency responders such a police, fire, military, etc. The centralized management tracing system 24 also provides access to current physical geographic location information via the communications network 18 with a web-interface or other interface usable by emergency personnel.

At Step 52, the network server 24 receives an emergency message from the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 indicating an emergency event has occurred.

In one embodiment, at Step 54, the network server 24 returns the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 in a SIP geo-location header and/or message body that can be used to initiate an E911 emergency call from the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

In another embodiment, upon an emergency call, the centralized management tracing system 24 provides the current physical geographic location of the first network device 12, 14, 16 back to the first mobile network device in a message other than a SIP geolocation header and/or message body (e.g., IP, IM, cellular, 802.xx.xx, RFID, etc.).

In another embodiment, the centralized management tracing system 24 also provides the current physical geographic location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 to emergency personnel using a variety of methods including, but not limited to those illustrated in Table 1.

TABLE 1 a. Providing a SIP messages to initiate an E911 communications to communications network 18 for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16, that describes the physical location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16; or b. Updating tables in call servers and network edge devices on the communications network 18 used by the E911 system to process an E911 communications from a mobile network device to allow the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16, to be located when it initiates an E911 communications.

Locating a Device Using Existing Wireless Networks

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 56 for locating a device using existing wireless networks. At Step 58, a first mobile network device periodically sends plural outbound wireless signals to plural other network devices on one or more wireless communications networks. At Step 60, the first mobile network device periodically receives plural inbound wireless signals from the plural other network devices on the one or more wireless communications networks. At Step 62, the plural inbound wireless signals are used to determine a pre-determined set of coordinates for the first mobile network device.

Method 56 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 58, a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically sends plural outbound wireless signals to plural other network devices 20, 22, 24 on one or more wireless communications networks 18.

At Step 60, the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically receives plural inbound wireless signals from the plural other network devices 20, 22, 24 on the one or more wireless communications networks 18.

At Step 62, the plural inbound wireless signals are used to determine a set of coordinates in geo-space for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

In one embodiment, a transceiver chip in the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16, is used to poll existing WiFi, WiMax, 802.xx.xx, cellular, RFID, mesh and other wireless networks to determine its geo-space. The application 26 uses a variety of methods to determine location in geo-space including triangulation, signal strength, orthogonal, etc. The location is constantly updated and the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 always knows its geo-location.

In one embodiment, the plural inbound wireless signals are used for Peer-to-Peer location determination of other network devices on the communications network.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 64 for locating a device in an emergency. At Step 66, a set of pre-determined coordinates determined from plural received inbound wireless signals are translated into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device. At Step 68, the physical geographical location is added to a message used to initiate an emergency communication. At Step 70, the emergency communication is initiated from the first mobile network device using the message including the physical geographic location of the first mobile network device.

Method 64 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 66 a set of coordinates in geo-space is determined from plural received inbound wireless signals are translated into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

At Step 68, the physical geographical location is added to a SIP geolocation header and/or message body used to initiate an emergency E911 communication.

At Step 70, the E911 emergency communication is initiated from the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 using the SIP geo-location header and/or message body including the physical geographic location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 72 for locating a device in a emergency. At Step 74, a first mobile network device periodically sends a set of pre-determined coordinates derived from one or more other wireless networks to a network server via a communications network. At Step 76, the network server translates the set of pre-determined coordinates into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device. At Step 78, the network server receives an emergency message from the first mobile network device indicating an emergency has occurred. At Step 80, the network server returns the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device in a message.

Method 72 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 74, a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically sends a set of coordinates in geo-space derived from one or more other wireless communications networks 18.

For example, the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically updates, either on a scheduled basis or on an event basis (e.g., physical movement of the device) its geo-coordinates to a centralized location tracing management system 24 using HTTP, IP, SIP, SDP, or other wireless or other data transmission protocols.

At Step 76, the network server 24 translates the set of geo-space coordinates into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

The centralized management tracing system 24 translates the X,Y and Z coordinates into a current physical geographic location that can be responded to by emergency responders such a police, fire, military, etc. The centralized management tracing system 24 also provides access to current physical geographic location information via the communications network 18 with a web-interface or other interface usable by emergency personnel.

At Step 78, the network server 24 receives an emergency message from the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 indicating an emergency has occurred.

In one embodiment, at Step 80, the network server 24 returns the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 in a SIP geo-location header and/or message body that can be used to initiate an E911 emergency call from the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

In another embodiment, upon an emergency call, the centralized management tracing system 24 provides the current physical geographic location of the first network device 12, 14, 16 back to the first mobile network device in a message other than a SIP message (e.g., IP, etc.).

In another embodiment, the centralized management tracing system 24 also provides the current physical geographic location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 to emergency personnel using a variety of methods including, but not limited to those illustrated in Table 2.

TABLE 2 a. Providing a SIP geo-location header and/or message bodies to initiate an E911 communications to communications network 18 for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16, that describes the physical location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16; or b. Updating tables in call servers and network edge devices on the communications network 18 used by the E911 system to process an E911 communications from a mobile network device to allow the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16, to be located when it initiates an E911 communications.

Emergency Location Information Service (E-LIS)

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 82 for locating a device using existing wireless networks. At Step 84, a wireless access point sends plural outbound signals to plural wireless network devices connected to a wireless communications network. At Step 86, the wireless access point receives plural inbound signals from the plural wireless network devices. At Step 88, the wireless access point determines a set of pre-determined coordinates for the plural wireless network devices. At Step 90, the wireless access point determines a set of physical geographic locations using the determined set of pre-determined coordinates for the plural wireless network devices. The plural physical locations are used to locate the plural wireless network devices when an emergency event occurs.

In one embodiment, Method 82 further includes Step 91. At Step 91, the wireless access point sends the set plural physical locations for the plural network networks to a server device to allow a physical geographic location to be determined for the plural network devices. However, Method 82 can be practice with or without Step 91.

Method 82 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 84, a wireless access point 24 sends plural outbound signals to plural wireless network devices 12, 14, 16 connected to a wireless communications network 18.

In one embodiment the plural outbound signals include plural SIP geo-location header and/or message bodies or other protocol messages.

In one embodiment the wireless access point 24 includes a server device. In another embodiment, the wireless access point 24 does not include a server device. In such an embodiment the wireless access point 24 comprises a proxy for dumb devices.

In one embodiment, the plural wireless network devices 12, 14, 16 include unique identifiers. (e.g., IP and MAC address, MAC address, URI, etc.). At Step 86, the wireless access points sends out the plural outbound signals to “ping” the plural network devices device and then measures a return signal strength, a return time delay, a return orthogonal to determine the geo-coordinates of the plural wire network devices. In such an embodiment, the plural wireless network devices periodically send out an electronic heartbeat with a timestamp to the wireless access point via the communications network 18. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

At Step 86, the wireless access point 24 receives plural inbound signals from the plural wireless network devices 12, 14, 16.

In one embodiment, the plural inbound signals and plural outbound signals include, but are not limited to, SIP, SDP, IP, MAC, CMRS, cellular telephone, PCS, PCN, GSM, GPRS, CDPD, WAP DAB, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, IEEE 802.11xx, GPS, GPS map, DGPS, IM, SMS, RFID or Zigbee signals. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and other inbound and outbound signals can be used to practice the invention.

However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and other inbound and outbound signals can be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment at Step 90, the wireless access point 24 determines a set of geo-coordinates and an identifier including an IP address and a MAC address for the plural wireless network devices 12, 14, 16.

In another embodiment, at Step 90, the wireless access point 24 determines a set of geo-coordinates using a unique identifier pre-assigned to the plural wireless network devices 12, 14, 16. This unique identifier does not include an IP address or a MAC address. In one embodiment the unique identifier is included in an E-Location Object.

In one embodiment, the E-Location Object includes an Extensible Markup Language (XML) object extension to a Presence Information Data Format (e.g., PIDF-LO) as defined in RFC-4119, the information used in current presence-based systems, like IM (or SMS). For more information see IETF RFC-4119, incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, the unique identifier includes a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). As is known in the art, a URI is a unique address of a network resource that is unique across the whole network it is used on. A URI is the unique identifier used to access the resource on a network.

In one embodiment a URI used herein for a network device 12, 14, 16 is unique across all wired and wireless communication networks the network device is used on.

In another embodiment, the unique identifier includes a specialized E911-based unique identifier. However, the present invention is not limited to these unique identifier and other identifiers can also be used to practice the invention.

At Step 90, the wireless access point 24 determines a set of physical geographic locations for the plural wireless network devices 12, 14, 16. The plural physical geographic locations are used to locate the plural wireless network devices when an emergency event occurs, such as an E911 call. In another embodiment, the plural physical geographic locations are used to locate the plural wireless network devices 12, 14, 16 during non-emergency situations.

In one embodiment, at Step 91, the wireless access point 20 sends a set of geo-coordinates and an identifier including an IP address and a MAC address for the plural network devices 12, 14, 16 to a server device 24 to allow a physical geographic location to be determined for the plural network devices 12, 14, 16 on the server device 24.

In another embodiment at Step 91, the wireless access point 20 sends the unique identifier for the plural network devices 12, 14, 16 to a server device 24 to allow a physical geographic location to be determined for the plural network devices 12, 14, 16 on the server device 24.

In such embodiments, both the wireless access point 20 and the server device 24 have physical geographic location of the plural network devices 12, 14, 16.

In another embodiment, Method 82 is practiced with wired devices, a wired access point and a wired communications network 18. In another embodiment, Method 82 is practiced with a combination of wireless and wired devices and wired and wireless communications networks.

In another embodiment, a geo-coordinates in (X, Y and/or Z) space is used in place of the physical geographic location. In such an embodiment, the geo-coordinates may be further translated or used by other devices to determine a device location.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 92 for locating a device in an emergency. At Step 94, a network server receives an emergency message from a first mobile network device via a communications network indicating an emergency event has occurred. At Step 96, the network server information translates information from the emergency message into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device. The emergency message includes a unique identifier for the first mobile network device and the unique identifier is used to access information about the first mobile network device. At Step 98, the network server returns the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device in a signal via the communications network.

Method 92 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 94, a network server 24 receives an emergency message from a first mobile network device (e.g., 12) via the communications network 18 indicating an emergency event (e.g., fire, accident, injury, criminal event, etc.) has occurred.

In one embodiment, the emergency message is an E911 communication event. In another embodiment, the emergency message is an non-emergency message.

In one embodiment the emergency message includes a SIP geo-location header and/or message body with a geo-location header. The geo-location header includes a PIDF-LO extension (i.e., RFC-4119) for the device. When a PIDF-LO is present, the header will indicate to SIP proxies along the call path where in the message body the PIDF-LO can be found, otherwise the geo-location header will have the SIP URI (i.e., address) of the E-LIS where the device's location is stored.

In another embodiment, the emergency message includes a SIP geo-location header and/or message body without a PIDF-LO extension. In another embodiment, the emergency message includes an E911 message.

At Step 96, the network server 24 translates information from the emergency message into a current physical geographic location for a first mobile network device 12.

In one embodiment, the network server 24 translates a set of coordinates in geo-space in the emergency message or retrieves from database 24′ a set of previously stored coordinates for the first mobile network device 12 and the unique identifier includes an IP address and MAC address into a current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12, and writes this information back to the first mobile network device 12 in a management data message or management data stream over the wireless communications network 18.

In another embodiment, the network server 24 translates the unique identifier for the first mobile network device 12 into a current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12. The unique identifier includes a URI for the first mobile network device 12.

In another embodiment, the network server 24 translates a unique identifier for the first mobile network device 12 into a current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12 and the unique identifier is used for a look-up of a ten digit emergency location identification number (ELIN) number that will be sent out in the event of a E911 call for the first mobile network device 12.

In another embodiment, the network server 24 translates a set of coordinates in geo-space in the emergency message or retrieves from database 24′ a set of previously stored current physical geographical location for the first mobile network device 12 and writes this information back to the first mobile network device 12 in a management data stream over the wireless communications network 18.

In another embodiment, the first mobile network device is a first non-mobile network device.

In one embodiment, the emergency message is an emergency message sent over a wireless interface. In one embodiment, the wireless interfaces include, but are not limited to, CMRS, cellular telephone, PCS, PCN, GSM, GPRS, CDPD, WAP DAB, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, IEEE 802.11xx, GPS, GPS map, DGPS, IM, SMS, RFID or Zigbee wireless interfaces. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and other wireless interfaces can be used to practice the invention.

In another embodiment, the emergency message is an emergency message sent over a wired interface. In another embodiment, the emergency message is an non-emergency message.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 100 for an emergency location information service (E-LIS). At Step 102, a network server device sends plural outbound signals to plural network devices connected to a communications network. At Step 104, the network server device receives plural inbound signals from the plural network devices. At Step 106, the network server device determines a type of device for the plural network devices. The type of device is used to determine a physical geographic location for the plural network devices when an emergency event occurs.

Method 100 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the plural inbound and outbound signals include, but are not limited to, SIP geo-location header and/or message bodies.

In one embodiment the plural outbound and plural inbound signals are sent securely to and received securely from the communications network 18.

In one embodiment, plural inbound and outbound signals comprise wireless signals include, but are not limited to, CMRS, cellular telephone, PCS, PCN, GSM, GPRS, CDPD, WAP, DAB, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, IEEE 802.11xx, GPS, GPS map, DGPS, IM, SMS, RFID or Zigbee wireless signals.

In one embodiment, the plural inbound and outbound signals comprise wired signals include, but are not limited to, CATV, HDTV, DSL, ADSL, VDSL, etc., coaxial or fiber optic signals.

In such an exemplary embodiment, at Step 102 a network server device 24 sends plural outbound signals to plural wired or wireless target network devices 12, 14, 16 connected to a wired or wireless communications network 18.

At Step 104, the network server device 24 receives plural inbound signals from the plural target network devices 12, 14, 16.

In one embodiment at Step 106, the network server device 24 determines a device type for the plural wireless or wired target network devices 12, 14, 16 to allow a current physical geographic location to be determined for the plural wireless or wired target network devices 12, 14, 16 in an emergency event situation.

In one embodiment, at Step 106, the network server device 24 determines a device type using at least the items illustrated in Table 3.

TABLE 3 a. a location determination of IP and SIP softphone client devices external to an enterprise network. b. a location determination of IP and SIP devices within an enterprise data network. c. a location determination of IP and SIP devices on WiFi, WiMAX other 802.xx.xx networks. d. a location determination for IP and SIP devices using location positioning chipsets (GPS, etc.). e. a location determination for geo-coordinate devices on wireless networks f. a location determination for geo-coordinate devices on wired networks

In on embodiment, the device type includes a smart network device that stores its own location information or a dumb target network device that does not store its own location information. If the device type is a dumb target network device, then the server network device includes a proxy server device to store location information for the dumb target network device.

In one embodiment, the emergency event is an E911 communication event. In another embodiment, the emergency message is an non-emergency event.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 108 for a location information system. At Step 110, a network server device determines a type of device for the plural target network devices. At Step 112, the network server device sends the plural device types to plural other server network devices to allow a physical geographic location to be determined for the plural target network devices when an emergency event occurs.

Method 108 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment, at Step 110, the network server device 24 determines IP based network devices and SIP based network devices for the plural wireless or wired target network devices 12, 14, 16 to allow a current physical geographic location to be determined for the plural wireless or wired target network devices 12, 14, 16 in an emergency situation. However, the present invention is not limited to IP and SIP based network devices and the network server device 24 can be used to determine other types of target network devices.

At Step 112, the network server device 24 sends the plural device types to plural other server network devices 20, 22 to allow a physical geographic location to be determined for the plural target network devices 12, 14, 16 when an emergency event occurs. In one embodiment, the emergency event is a E911 communication event.

In another embodiment, the network server device 24 sends the plural device types to plural other server network devices 20, 22 to allow a physical geographic location to be determined for the plural target network devices 12, 14, 16 when non-emergency event occurs.

In one embodiment, at Step 112, the network server device 24 sends physical geographic location data to ancillary network infrastructure devices that may store, manage or forward physical location data including, but not limited to those listed in Table 4.

TABLE 4 a. IP Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs) b. SIP servers and SIP call servers c. Session Border Controllers d. Wireless Access Points (WiAPs) e. Wireless LAN switches f. Wireless network management software and systems g. LAN switches h. Routers and Bridges i. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers j. Other network applications that consolidate location data for devices k. Mobile Positing Centers l. Gateway Mobile Location Centers

The server network device 24 also includes an application 26 with software to convert geo-coded location data to physical location or physical maps.

The server network device 24 also includes an application 26 for reading and writing data to external databases, applications, systems including, but not limited to, those illustrated in Table 5.

TABLE 5 a. Automatic Location Identification (ALI) Databases that are hosted by Regional Bell Operating Companies, ILECs, CLECs b. VoIP Positioning Centers c. Mobile Positioning Centers d. Gateway Mobile Location Centers e. Selective router networks f. Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) validation systems g. Other databases h. Provisioning databases and provisioning applications i. Billing Systems, applications and databases j. Corporate database k. Caller ID databases l. E911 databases

In one embodiment, the server network device 24 also includes an application 26 for notification of events, scheduling of tasks, issuing reports on system logs and system performance and activity and a graphical user interface (GUIs) for softphone and device location identification by the end user.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 114 for an emergency location information system (E-LIS). At Step 116, a wireless emergency message is received on a network server device with one or more processors from an application on a first mobile network device with one or more processors via a wireless communications network indicating an emergency event has occurred with the first mobile network device. At Step 118, the network server device determines from the emergency message a current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device. The emergency message includes a unique identifier for the first mobile network device on the wireless communications network and the unique identifier is used to access and verify location information about the first mobile network device in current three dimensional (3D) (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates at the current physical geographic location. At Step 120, the network server device returns to a desired emergency response server with one or more processors the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device.

Method 114 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment, at Step 116, a wireless emergency message is received on a network server device 24 with one or more processors from an application 26 on a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 with one or more processors via a wireless communications network 18 indicating an emergency event has occurred with the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

At Step 118, the network server device 24 determines from the emergency message a current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16. The emergency message includes a unique identifier (e.g., URI, XML object, etc.) for the first mobile network device on the wireless communications network 18 and the unique identifier is used to access and verify location information about the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 in current three dimensional (3D) (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates at the current physical geographic location.

At Step 120, the network server device 24 returns to a desired emergency response server with one or more processors the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

In one embodiment, the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 includes a smart network device comprising a smart phone or a tablet computer. In one embodiment, the application 26 includes a smart application for a smart phone or a tablet computer.

In one embodiment, the emergency event includes an accident, event, fire event, terrorist attack event, military event or crime event.

In one embodiment, the emergency event is detected by an accelerometer and/or a temperature sensor integral and/or internal to the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16. In another embodiment, the emergency event is detected by an accelerometer and/or a temperature sensor external (e.g., connected via USB port, not connected directly but receiving communications (e.g., RFID sensor, ISM sensor, etc.)) and in communications with to the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16. For example, the accelerometer may detect an impact and/or the temperature sensor may detect a fire, etc.

However, the present invention is not limited to these emergency events and/or sensors and more, fewer and/or other types of emergency events and/or sensors can be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the emergency event further includes other types of emergencies including: locating children or medical patients based on a triggering event causing communications to an intermediate service provider (e.g., hospital, private nurse company, etc.) and/or an intruder in a school; locating inanimate objects based on a triggering event causing communications to an intermediate information receiver (e.g., material (e.g., via RFID tag, etc.), truck, trailer tools, etc.); locating sensors based on a triggering event causing communications to an intermediate information receiver (e.g., weather service, private security office, government security office, etc.) for a kidnapping, robbery, assault, missing person, a criminal subject to court ordering electronic monitoring (e.g., a registered sex offender not allowed to be near a school, etc.). In such an embodiment, sensors such as RFID sensors and/or ISM sensors and/or other types of sensors and/or other types of target network devices and/or other types server network devices may also be used to provide information to the target network devices 12, 14, 16 and/or server network devices and/or emergency server network devices.

However, the present invention is not limited to these exemplary emergency events and more, fewer and/or other types of emergency events can be used to practice the invention.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 122 for an emergency location information system (E-LIS). At Step 124, a location request message is received on a server network device to determine a current physical location for a first mobile network device. At Step 126, retrieve on the first mobile network device via one or more other server network devices on the wireless communications network the current physical location of the first mobile network device. At Step 128, the current physical location of the first mobile network device is verified by comparing the retrieved current physical location information to stored current physical location information for the first mobile network device. At Step 130, the current physical location information for the first mobile network device is sent to the desired emergency response server.

Method 122 is illustrated with one exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment, at Step 124, a location request message is received on the server network device 24 to determine a current physical location for a first mobile network device 12, 14, 16.

At Step 126, the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 retrieves via one or more other server network devices 20, 22, 24 on the wireless communications network 18 the current physical location of the first mobile network device. 12, 14, 16.

In one embodiment, Step 126 includes determining a current physical location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16. The current physical location is determined by pulling current physical location coordinates from the infrastructure of the wireless communications network 18 rather than the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically pushing its current physical location into the wireless communication network 18. For example: (1) In a Public Branch Exchange (PBX) environment, the E-LIS performs a data link Layer 2 discovery on an IP network that serves the enterprise. This would correlate extensions with the coordinates for an actual physical location or area from where the emergency or non-emergency call was placed, for downstream processing (e.g., by emergency response servers, other network servers, etc.); (2) In a cellular (traditional, micro cell, data to cell, etc.) environment, the E-LIS queries cell site and its neighbors serving the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 for presence information of the first mobile network device to request original or updated location coordinates for the current physical location.

In one embodiment, no translation of location coordinates are completed. In another embodiment, location information is translated in 3D (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates to obtain a current physical location as was described above.

In another embodiment, the automatic location request message is generated on the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 when the first mobile network device is physically shaken in a pre-determined pattern. For example, if a person was being kidnapped and still had the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16, the device could be turned upside and shaken to automatically generate the location request message. In such an embodiment, the accelerometer in the device is used and automatically generates automatic location request message when it is activated.

In another embodiment, the automatic location request message is generated on the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 when a pre-determined selection input is received (e.g., typing in a numeric code on the virtual keypad, from a manual button, from a virtual button, etc.).

However, the present invention is not limited to the pre-determine pattern described and other pre-determined patterns can be used to practice the invention.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described for Step 126 and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

At Step 128, the current physical location of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 is verified by comparing the retrieved current physical location information to stored current physical location information for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 on the server network device 24.

At Step 130, the current physical location information for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 is sent to the desired emergency response server.

In one embodiment, first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 periodically determines and sends the current physical location for the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 to the server network device 24 via the wireless communications network 18.

Method 122 and the other methods described herein can be applied to emergency situations where a user of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16 does not have the capability to initiate a call (e.g., partially incapacitated, person kidnapped person, etc.) The E-LIS could be used to initiate the tracking or locating of the first mobile network device 12, 14, 16. It follows that this same technology could be applied to non-emergency events including stolen property location and subsequent retrieval.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and other embodiments can also be used to practice the invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram 132 illustrating a location 134 of a first mobile network device (e.g., 12, etc.) determined with the methods and system of the emergency location information system (E-LIS) described herein. A user 136 of the first mobile network device 12 can also shake the device as described above to generate and automatic location response message as was described above.

The methods and system described herein provide, but are not limited to at least: (1) location determine services for any network device in any wired and/or wireless access network (e.g., Ethernet, cable, DSL, WiFi, WiMAX, cellular, CATV, PSTN, mesh, ISM, RFID, 802.xx..xx, etc.); (2) Determines a physical geographical location if necessary, and interface with any and all existing location systems (e.g., GPS, network triangulation, 3D (X, Y, Z) geo-space, other WiFi, WiMAX and other wireless tracking systems, etc.), and stores, manipulates, secures, and “serves up” location, in a data form or XML data objects (or other accepted and necessary data formats), to devices capable of accepting it, to location recipients, where the service/servers stores location on behalf of users/devices; (3) provides current physical location service for any and all applications requiring it, including and especially emergency calling service (i.e., called E911 and 911 in North America, and other geographic regions); and (4) and provides, stores, manipulates, and secure locations in either room/building/postal address (physical geographic location) format or geo-coordinates (e.g., (X, Y, Z) etc.) referent to any generally accepted reference datum like WGS-84 (GPS, etc.).

It should be understood that the architecture, programs, processes, methods and systems described herein are not related or limited to any particular type of computer or network system (hardware or software), unless indicated otherwise. Various types of general purpose or specialized computer systems may be used with or perform operations in accordance with the teachings described herein.

In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which the principles of the present invention can be applied, it should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. For example, the steps of the flow diagrams may be taken in sequences other than those described, and more or fewer elements may be used in the block diagrams.

While various elements of the preferred embodiments have been described as being implemented in software, in other embodiments hardware or firmware implementations may alternatively be used, and vice-versa.

The claims should not be read as limited to the described order or elements unless stated to that effect. In addition, use of the term “means” in any claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, and any claim without the word “means” is not so intended.

Therefore, all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention. 

1. A method for locating a device during an emergency, comprising: receiving on a network server device with one or more processors a wireless emergency message from an application on a first mobile network device with one or more processors via a wireless communications network indicating an emergency event has occurred with the first mobile network device; determining on the network server device from the emergency message a current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device, wherein the emergency message includes a unique identifier for the first mobile network device on the wireless communications network and the unique identifier is used to access and verify location information about the first mobile network device in current three dimensional (3D) (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates at the current physical geographic location; and returning from the network server device to a desired emergency response server with one or more processors the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing one or more processors to execute the steps of the method.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency message further includes a current physical geographic location information in Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired emergency response server is an E911 or 911 emergency response server.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency message further includes a triggering event from a sensor or another network device.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a wired access point and the first mobile network device connected to a wired communications network with a wired connection.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the current 3D (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates at the current physical location includes current 3D (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates for a room on a building floor, building floor in a building, building on a street, an enterprise, campus, village, town, city, state, country or continent or global region.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency message includes an E911 communication or a 911 communication message.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency message is received over a wireless interface including: Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS), cellular telephone, Personal Communications Services network (PCS), Packet Cellular Network (PCN), Global System for Mobile Communications, (GSM), Generic Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), IEEE 802.11xx, Global Positioning System (GPS) and GPS map, Digital GPS (DGPS), Instant Messaging (IM), Short Message Services (SMS), Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID), Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM), or a Zigbee wireless interface.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier includes a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) for the first mobile network device unique across all wireless and wired communications network the first mobile network device is connected to.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile network device automatically determines and stores its own current physical geographical location information from the communications network.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile network device includes a smart network device comprising a smart phone or a tablet computer and wherein the application includes a smart application for the smart phone or the tablet computer.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency event includes an accident, event, fire event, terrorist attack event, military event or crime event.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency event includes an emergency event detected by an accelerometer or a temperature sensor included on the first mobile network device.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a location request message on the server network device to determine a current physical location for the first mobile network device; retrieving on the first mobile network device via one or more other server network devices on the wireless communications network the current physical location of the first mobile network device; verifying the current physical location of the first mobile network device by comparing the retrieved current physical location information to a stored current physical location information for the first mobile network device; and sending to the desired emergency response server the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the sending step including sending location information about the first mobile network device in current three dimensional (3D) (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates at the current physical geographic location.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the retrieving step includes retrieving the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device with data link layer request using Internet Protocol (IP).
 18. The method of claim 15 where the first mobile network device periodically determines and sends the current physical location for the first mobile network device to the server network device via the wireless communications network.
 19. The method of claim 15 receiving step includes an automatic location request message generated on the first mobile network device when the first mobile network device is physical shaken in a pre-determined pattern.
 20. An emergency location information system (E-LIS), comprising in combination: means for receiving on a network server device with one or more processors a wireless emergency message from an application on first mobile network device with one or more processors via a wireless communications network indicating an emergency event has occurred with the first mobile network device; means for verifying on the network server device information from the emergency message into a current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device, wherein the emergency message includes a unique identifier for the first mobile network device on the wireless communications network and the unique identifier is used to access information about the first mobile network device in current (X,Y,Z) geo-space coordinates at the current physical geographic location; means for returning from the network server device to a desired emergency response server with one or more processors the current physical geographic location and position in (X,Y,Z) geo-space at the current physical location for the first mobile network device; means for receiving a location request message on the server network device to determine a current physical location for the first mobile network device; means for retrieving from the first mobile network device via the wireless communications network the current physical location of the first mobile network device; means for verifying the current physical location of the first mobile network device by comparing the current physical location information to stored current physical location information for the first mobile network device stored in a computer readable medium associated with the first mobile network device; and means for sending to the desired emergency response server the current physical geographic location for the first mobile network device obtained from the designated server network device. 